Philippians 1:21

This great testimonial affirmation succinctly summarizes Paul’s philosophy of life. For him, regardless of the decision about whether he would continue to live or die or the opinions of other people, saved or lost, his whole life revolved around Jesus Christ. Paul placed "to me" first in this sentence for emphasis. Jesus’ work on the cross had become the reason for all that Paul did. Appreciation for Christ motivated him. His present enablement through the Spirit was the source of his strength. The prospect of seeing Jesus Christ and standing before Him one day drew him and constituted the goal for all he did. Many people today, if they were honest, would have to say that for them to live is money, fame, happiness, family, or any of a multitude of idols. [Note: See Swindoll, p. 57.] However, Jesus Christ was the sun around which Paul’s life orbited.

"Paul’s only reason for existence is that he may spend his life in that glad service; and death for that cause will be the crowning service." [Note: Martin, p. 77.]

If the Emperor’s verdict were death, Paul would be better off than if he continued to live. He would go into the presence of his Lord and be free forever from sin, suffering, and sorrow. Furthermore he would have glorified God by persevering faithfully to the end of his life. The Christian can take a radically different view of death than the unbeliever who has no hope, as Paul did (cf. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

"Paul’s hope for the future, centered as it was in Jesus, kept him from making too much of his current circumstances. This hope enabled him to reassess his circumstances, not by suppressing his emotions, evident throughout this letter, but by relating them to God’s sovereignty and to Jesus’ centrality in life." [Note: Darrell L. Bock, "A Theology of Paul’s Prison Epistles," in A Biblical Theology of the New Testament, p. 322.]